The Rising Cost of Dermatological Care in Australia
A new report by health directory Cleanbill, published on Sunday, reveals a significant increase in the cost of dermatological care in Australia between 2024 and 2025.
Based on data from 322 clinics, the average out-of-pocket cost for a first appointment rose by nearly A$18 to A$230, and a follow-up appointment rose by nearly A$20 to A$190.
Key Findings
- Regional Impact: The increase was more pronounced in Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania.
- Patients Forgoing Care: The report states that many patients are forgoing medically necessary dermatological care due to cost.
- Widening Gap: Dr. Elizabeth Deveny, CEO of the Consumers Health Forum, commented that the gap between Medicare coverage and specialist charges has been widening.
- First-Time Patient Disadvantage: Cleanbill CEO James Gillespie noted that first-time patients typically do not have access to lower fee arrangements that may be available to repeat patients.
Context: A System Under Strain
- Workforce Limitations: The dermatology workforce in Australia includes under 700 specialist dermatologists and about 130 trainees, while demand is driven partly by high skin cancer rates.
- Shift to Cosmetic Work: Some dermatologists are reportedly shifting to cosmetic work outside Medicare, reducing availability for essential treatment.
- Training Bottleneck: Training positions are limited by government funding and capacity in public hospitals.
- Broader Specialist Shortfall: Australian Bureau of Statistics data for 2024-2025 estimates that nearly 810,000 Australians over 15 did not see a specialist when needed due to cost.
- Call for Action: The Australasian College of Dermatologists stated that Medicare rebates have not kept pace with practice costs, and called for sustainable Medicare funding and increased resourcing of public dermatology clinics.